The most common brain complication observed is a stroke, which has been reported in 77 of 125 patients. Of these, most were in patients over the age of 60, caused by a blood clot in the brain called an ischemic stroke.
LONDON – A preliminary study of hospital patients with COVID-19 found that the disease can damage the brain, causing complications such as stroke, inflammation, psychosis and dementia-like symptoms in some severe cases.
The results are the first detailed review of a range of neurological complications from COVID-19, the researchers said, and underscore the need for larger studies to find the mechanisms underlying them and help find treatments.
“This is an important finding of brain complications related to COVID-19 in hospital patients. It is extremely important that we continue to collect this information to really understand this virus“said Sarah Pett, professor at University College London. who co-directed the work.
The study, published Thursday in the journal Lancet Psychiatry, looked in detail at 125 cases across the UK. Benedict Michael, co-principal investigator, from the University of Liverpool, said he was important to note that he focused on severe cases.
Data was collected between April 2 and April 26 – when the disease spread exponentially in the UK.
The study also found that 39 of 125 patients showed signs of confusion or behavioral changes reflecting an altered mental state. Of these, nine had unspecified brain dysfunction, known as encephalopathy, and seven had inflammation of the brain, or encephalitis.
Michael said the results were an important first step towards defining the effect of COVID-19 on the brain. “We now need detailed studies to understand the possible biological mechanisms … so that we can explore potential treatments,” he said.
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